Community Spotlight: WFAE Coverage of Lucille’s Kitchen and West End Revitalization

→ Links to: Best of the West Fundraiser spotlights new venture in Charlotte’s historic West End (WFAE)

Original Article Written By: Elvis Menayese

The West End’s heartbeat is getting stronger. Over the weekend, more than 100 residents, entrepreneurs, and community leaders gathered along Beatties Ford Road for the “Best of the West” fundraiser—celebrating the upcoming launch of Lucille’s Kitchen, a new Kennedy Properties venture designed to empower culinary entrepreneurs and provide meaningful employment opportunities for local residents.

The event was filled with flavor and purpose. Guests sampled shrimp and grits, vegan rice, and other dishes from five local chefs, including Chef Andarrio Johnson of Cuzzo’s Cuisine, who praised the effort as a vital step toward unity and growth for Charlotte’s Black culinary community.

Developer Shawn Kennedy, founder of Kennedy Properties & Development, shared his vision for Lucille’s Kitchen as both a training ground and a launchpad. “There’s going to be five entrepreneurs in here,” he said. “We’re going to push them to hire people from the community and pay good wages. After a year or two, they’ll move into their own brick-and-mortar and hire even more.”

Lucille’s Kitchen, named in honor of Kennedy’s mother, will officially open in January 2026, serving as both a culinary incubator and a community hub that offers workshops on nutrition, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Program manager Danyae Thomas of the Park Community Development Corporation added that the initiative will also educate residents on healthy eating and fresh produce access—essential steps toward long-term wellness and opportunity.

This project is part of a broader mission by Kennedy Properties to revitalize Charlotte’s Historic West End through inclusive development. The company is also leading the restoration of the Historic Excelsior Club, once a beacon of Black excellence and community pride. “The Excelsior has been the lighthouse for Beatties Ford Road since 1944,” Kennedy said. “When it opens back up, it’s going to bring people back and start a new wave of revitalization.”

Together, Lucille’s Kitchen and the Excelsior project represent a vision of development without displacement—progress rooted in legacy, culture, and opportunity.

Read the full story on WFAE.

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